The causes of excess oil on the face are due to an overproduction of sebum by the sebaceous glands, more than the skin's needs. The sebum is necessary to maintain the moisture and barrier function of the skin, but its excessive presence can cause shiny skin, increase pore size, and clogged pores. It can be triggered by the climate, hormones, skincare, lifestyle, and makeup use, which can cause oily skin. When it comes to skincare products, a balanced skincare routine should include mild cleansers, lightweight moisturizers, consistent sun protection, and avoiding excessive cleansing, which may lead to the production of more sebum.
What Causes Excess Oil on the Face?
Sebum is a substance that the skin naturally produces to keep it soft, hydrated, and protected. However, when the sebaceous glands over-activate, they produce excess oil, which causes the skin to look shiny, with large pores and breakouts.
Climate and Humidity
Environment is one of the most frequent reasons behind an oily face.
The high humidity and heat naturally increase the production of sebum, thus making your skin look shinier all day long. The sweat and oil cannot evaporate properly, and that heat leads to increased activity of your sebaceous glands.
This can also happen indoors. Long hours spent inside in the AC can dry out your skin, which then tries to make up for the moisture loss by producing more sebum.
Wrong Skincare Habits
Your skincare routine can either help balance oil production or make it worse.
Many people unknowingly increase excess oil on their face by:
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Washing their face with harsh cleansers that strip away natural oils
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Skipping moisturizer because their skin already feels oily
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Using rich or pore-clogging creams
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Overusing scrubs or strong exfoliating products
When your skin barrier becomes dehydrated or irritated, it responds by producing even more oil to restore balance.
Lifestyle Triggers
Daily habits can also influence how oily your skin looks and feels.
Common lifestyle factors include:
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Stress: Higher cortisol levels can stimulate increased sebum production.
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Lack of sleep: Poor sleep may affect your skin's natural repair processes.
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Diet: Foods high in sugar or dairy may contribute to increased oil production in some individuals.
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Frequently touching your face: Transfers oil, dirt, and bacteria that can clog pores.
While these habits may not directly cause acne, they can contribute to an environment where excess oil and clogged pores become more likely.
Hormonal Changes
Another important factor for additional oil production is hormonal changes.
Androgen hormones can have an effect on the sebaceous glands, causing excess oil production during puberty and during menstrual periods, and prolonged stress.
Makeup Choices
The products you put on your skin can also help to determine whether your skin will feel oily all day long. Heavy or comedogenic cosmetics may clog pores, causing heat, sweat, and sebum to build up on the skin's surface.
Why Is My Forehead So Oily?
The answer lies in your skin's anatomy - Your forehead is part of the T-zone, which is the part of your face where you have a higher sebum production than the rest of the face. The forehead is usually oily sooner than other parts of the face, as these glands produce more sebum. Oily forehead issues can become more noticeable with heat, humidity, sweat, hormonal shifts, thick hair products, and some types of cosmetics.
Does Oily Skin Cause Acne?
Sebum, the oil your skin produces, is a natural and necessary part of a healthy skin barrier. It keeps skin hydrated and helps protect against environmental stress. The issue isn't oil itself, but what happens when there's too much of it, and what it mixes with.
When excess sebum combines with dead skin cells, dirt, and bacteria, it can block pores and create the conditions where breakouts are more likely. The amount of oil production and acne are correlated. A study by the National Library of Medicine , comparing the skin of people with and without acne, found that those with acne produced roughly 59% more sebum than those without, and interestingly, the composition of that sebum differed too, not just the amount.
This combination can lead to:
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Whiteheads: Closed pores that are filled with dead skin and sebum.
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Blackheads: Open pores clogged with oil that darkens on exposure to air.
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Clogged pores: Pores blocked by excess oil, dead skin cells, and debris.
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Inflammatory acne: Red, swollen pimples caused by inflamed clogged pores.
It's why people with oily skin often find themselves dealing with recurring breakouts. Oil itself isn't the enemy, but unmanaged excess oil creates an environment where acne has room to develop.
How to Reduce Excess Oil on Face: Dermatologist-Guided Skincare Routine
Controlling excess oil on the face is not about getting rid of all the oil. With a regular skincare routine and the right ingredients, you can maintain sebum balance, reduce shine, and cleanse the pores without harming the skin barrier.
Step 1: Cleanse without overwashing
Use a light face wash that contains salicylic acid to start and end your day. Salicylic acid absorbs into the pores and removes excess oil, dirt, and dead skin cells, and helps to control blackheads and clogged pores.
Step 2: Apply a Serum to Balance Oil
Apply a niacinamide serum in the morning to control excess sebum production, smooth out pores, and support a healthy skin barrier.
Exfoliate 2-3 times a week at night using an AHA BHA PHA serum Chemical exfoliants help to clear away dead skin, prevent pores from clogging, and help to lower the risk of blackheads and acne. On alternate nights, stick to your regular skincare routine.
Step 3: Moisturize with a Lightweight Gel Formula
No matter how oily your skin, you still need to use moisturizer. Use a light gel moisturizer that contains ingredients like Zinc PCA and betaine to moisturize without adding too much oil. Properly hydrated skin also regulates extra sebum production.
Step 4: Finish with a Lightweight Gel-Based Sunscreen
A light, gel sunscreen will not leave the skin feeling heavy or greasy, and will continue to protect from UV damage. Avoid products that clog pores and choose one that is good for the skin; reapply every 2-3 hours if you're spending time outdoors.
Can You Remove Oil from Your Face Permanently?
If you are looking for ways to remove oil from face permanently, this is not possible.
Sebum is secreted by the skin to moisturize and to protect it, but the amount of oil that sebaceous glands produce is dependent on several factors, including your skin type, hormones, and genetics. So, you can't get rid of oil forever.
However, if you have extra oil production in the face, you can control it by following a consistent routine. Using a gentle cleanser, lightweight moisturizer, ingredients that help regulate sebum production, regular exfoliation, and daily protection with a sunscreen will help keep excess amounts of oil in control and, over time, reduce a shiny appearance.
The objective is not to eliminate all the oil, but to keep it in a healthy balance that leaves your skin comfortable and does not clog your pores.
Final Thoughts
The first step in treating excess oil on the face is to understand what it is caused by. The right skincare regimen can help keep your skin oil-free, while a variety of factors from active sebaceous glands to climate to hormones to lifestyle to skincare habits can all lead to oily skin. Don't overwash your face because removing your skin's natural oils can make your skin produce more sebum. Rather, a regular skincare regimen that includes gentle cleansing, light hydration, sebum-regulating ingredients, and daily sun protection should be used to manage facial oil production without compromising the skin barrier.
Having trouble getting started? Consider taking the SkinInspired Skin Test to find a product formulation that is right for your skin, or explore our collection to get products formulated to help control oily skin and balance your skin every day.
FAQs for How to Reduce Excess Oil on Face
Q1. What is the way to reduce oil on face?
Ans. To minimize excess oil, wash twice daily with a mild face wash such as niacinamide or salicylic acid, use a light gel moisturizer, and use a sunscreen daily. Do not overwash, as this will make your skin produce more oil.
Q2. What causes an oily face?
Ans. “Oily face” typically refers to a skin condition that is the result of overactive sebaceous glands. Hormonal changes, hot/humid weather, genetics, certain skincare regimens and stress are also known causes of sebum production.
Q3. Why is my forehead so oily?
Ans. The forehead is part of the T-zone that contains more sebaceous glands than the rest of your face. This naturally leads to higher oil production, especially in warm weather or during hormonal changes.
Q4. Is oily skin a factor in acne?
Ans. The fact that skin is oily does not necessarily lead to acne, but when there is an excess of oil, it may combine with dead skin cells and bacteria, causing acne. This makes it easier to get blackheads, whiteheads, as well as inflammatory acne.
Q5. Which of the following ingredients controls oil?
Ans. Ingredients that are used regularly in a routine can help to manage excess oil, prevent clogged pores, and help reduce shine in the skin, for example, niacinamide, salicylic acid, zinc PCA, or AHA/BHA/PHA exfoliants.